President Obama versus George W. Bush

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   pagesvoiceposted 11 years ago

   When George Bush was president the United States experienced the horrific attacks of 09/11. We were all misled into a war with Iraq and then we went to war in Afghanistan. He pushed to privatize Social Security. Bush was extremely slow in providing relief during hurricane Katrina. Prisoners were tortured and water boarded. He allowed no bid contracts to Halliburton in Iraq. His administration launched wire tapping phones without a court order and turned a budget surplus into a record deficit. These are just a few of Mr. Bush's epic failures as president. So, why are so many quick to openly loathe and despise President Obama?

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      Education Answerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      First off, it appears that you are justifying President Obama's performance based on a poor performance from George Bush.  It's sad that President Obama's performance can't speak for itself.  Apparently, we have to measure his success based on another person's failures?
      
      The POTUS said he was going to shut Guantanamo Bay, claiming that George Bush was wrong to use it to detain terrorists.  Almost, five years later, Guantanamo Bay is still open. 
      
      The POTUS said that torturing terrorists was wrong.  Many sources, most liberal, have been displeased with our new system of torturing terrorists, outsourcing to countries like Turkey.
      
      Despite George Bush's desire to do so, Social Security was never privatized.  Healthcare was, however, socialized; if you don't like that terminology, call it whatever you wish. 
      
      During Hurricane Katrina, Bush responded slowly.  During Benghazi, Obama didn't respond. 
      
      George Bush awarded contracts to Halliburton.  Obama awarded freebees to companies like Solyndra.
      
      George Bush authorized the invasion of our privacy with the Patriot Act.  Prior to becoming president, Obama did not support the Patriot Act.  Now, he supports the Patriot Act; his administration listens to our conversations and watches us just like George Bush's did.  In fact, most sources, both liberal and conservative, suggest this problem has grown worse.
      
      These are just a few of Mr. Obama's epic failures as president. It's obvious why so many are quick to openly loathe and despise President Obama's performance.
      
      Before somebody says I supported all of these polices under Bush but loathe them under the POTUS, please know that I have always been consistent with my disdain for some of these policies, regardless of which administration was trying to erode our freedoms or waste the taxpayers' money.

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         innersmiffposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Very well said!

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         pagesvoiceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         You mention Benhghazi, but apparently you have forgotten about 1/22/02 Calcutta, India and the U.S. Consulate when there were 5 killed. 6/14/02 Pakistan U.S. Consulate 12 killed, 2/28/03 Pakistan U.S. Embassy 2 killed, 5/12/03 Saudi Arabia diplomatic compound 36 killed including 9 Americans, 7/30/04 Uzbekistan U.S. Embassy 2 killed, 12/6/04 Saudi Arabia U.S. Consulate 9 killed, 3/2/06 Pakistan U.S. Consulate 4 killed including diplomat David Foy and 9/12/06 Syria U.S. Embassy 4 killed.
         According to Carol Rosenberg, foreign affairs reporter for the Miami Herald who covers the U.S. Naval base in Gauntanamo Bay, Obama is powerless to close Gauntanamo because of Congress. She writes in part, "The responsibility lies not so much with the White House but with Congress, which has thwarted President Barack Obama's plans to close the detention center, which the Bush administration opened on January 11, 2002 with 20 captives." She goes on to state, "Congress has used its spending oversight authority both to forbid the White House from financing trials of Guantánamo captives on U.S. soil and to block the acquisition of a state prison in Illinois to hold captives currently held in Cuba who would not be put on trial - a sort of Guantánamo North."
         At least 1,833 people lost their lives during Katrina and Georg Bush's response was, "Good job Brownie."
         Sources reveal Halliburton bilked us out of $17+ billion versus Solyndra receiving $500 million.
         In all honesty, I'm still on the fence regarding both the Patriot Act and Obamacare so I really can't make on stand on these two issues either pro or con.
         Again, I just don't understand the flagrant and blatant hatred thrown at President Obama.

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            Education Answerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            First off, what does George Bush have to do with President Obama's performance?  Again, it seems as if so many people try to justify President Obama's performance based on George Bush's performance.  Can't President Obama's performance stand on its own?  If not, then my point is obvious.  President Obama is a horrible president.
            
            You mention all of the attacks.  I do not blame President Obama for the attack.  I blame President Obama for doing nothing about it even though there were repeated requests to increase security.  I blame President Obama for not increasing security in a volatile region on or around the anniversary of 9-11.  I blame President Obama for not increasing security even though local newspapers were reporting an imminent attack on the embassy prior to the attack.  I blame President Obama for not rushing reinforcements there; we now know that the CIA and additional forces were on the ground in Benghazi during the attack.  Finally, I blame President Obama for doing absolutely nothing to bring the terrorists who killed our people to justice.  CNN was able to find one of the accused men and interview him just by asking, but our government has done NOTHING to apprehend the perpetrators.  Again, I don't blame President Obama for the attack; I blame President Obama for how he dealt with it by not dealing with it.  Isn't it fair to compare, at least on some level, Benghazi to Hurricane Katrina?  Both presidents reacted slowly.  Make no mistake, more lives were certainly lost in Hurricane Katrina, but our lack of a response sends a message to those who would harm us; attack America, and there will be no consequence.  Because of that, more lives will likely be lost in the future.
            
            Solyndra was only the tip of the iceberg.  Shall we list more company names?  We can certainly get into the billions there too.  Are you justifying the squandering of money because it was ONLY 1/2 of a billion dollars?  I guess if you misappropriate 500 million it means you're great; if it's a penny more, you are horrible.
            
            Blame Guantanamo Bay on Congress all you want.  Dig a little deeper, and you'll find that even liberal sources, such as the Huffington Post, are saying, "In 2010, Obama's Guantanamo Task Force determined that another 46 were 'too dangerous to transfer but not feasible for prosecution.' And so they remain stuck here, in limbo."  You see, he hasn't pushed hard to close it, because his own people are recommending not do to do so.  That's the real reason the president has made only half-hearted efforts to shut down the base. 
            
            I am not saying that George Bush did a great job; Brownie did not do a great job.  I am not saying that George Bush was justified in pushing the Patriot Act.  I am saying that President Obama has done some of the same things, and many liberals who hated George Bush don't want to accept that fact.

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            innersmiffposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            What about the drone strikes? They're killing innocent civilians each and every day under Obama's orders.

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         L.M. Hoslerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I would also like to mention the misuse of the IRS and why no one has been held accountable for targeting the Tea Party.  Richard Nixon was impeached for a lot less than this.
         
         As far as Benghazi, why was there such a big effort made to cover up with the ridiculous VIDEO story. It was the anniversary of 9/11 and anyone that believed the video story should contact me. I will sell you some ocean front property in Arizona. Then to top it off, Obama rewards Susan Rice for going on five television shows and lying, by promoting her.
         
         And how about the damage that Obama along with Sharpton, Eric Holder and Jesse Jackson has done to race relations in this country. I have never seen this country so divided and these three race baiters are part of the problem.
         How about all those executive orders that Obama passes without the voice of our representatives? Does Obama think he is King of the US instead of the president. We, the citizens are having no vote in matters when our elected representatives are not allowed to vote.
         
         Obama closes OUR Whitehouse to visitors and children and then takes several EXPENSIVE vacations on taxpayers money while people in this country are jobless and suffering. He has private concerts in the Whitehouse but cuts tours of the Whitehouse. Of course, though he does love using children for PHOTOS to show how much he loves children.

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            Cody Hodge5posted 11 years agoin reply to this

            I totally understand how Fox News gets such a large audience....conservatives will believe anything that they are told.

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         Cody Hodge5posted 11 years agoin reply to this

         "First off, what does George Bush have to do with President Obama's performance?  Again, it seems as if so many people try to justify President Obama's performance based on George Bush's performance.  Can't President Obama's performance stand on its own?  If not, then my point is obvious.  President Obama is a horrible president."
         
         I think the broader point is that for everything people blame Obama for, Bush seems to have three, four, or five more of the same incidents happen on his watch.
         
         Comparing Katrina to Benghazi is ridiculous........Bush had at least a week of advance warning and did nothing about it.
         
         A month or two before 9/11, there was a report given to Bush (while he was on vacation playing golf, because apparently it's only OK to do so if you're a member of the GOP) that said Bin Laden was planning to strike in the U.S. Apparently that was just ignored.
         
         What about the two major stock market crashes that occurred when Bush was president?
         
         People want to call Obama arrogant, but what about when Bush said that God chose him to be president?

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            Education Answerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Yes, we have both succeeded in drawing comparisons on these topics.  That was my point.  I wasn't trying to defend George Bush on these topics.  I was illustrating similarities.
            
            There are two sides to that coin.  People who hated George Bush now defend President Obama for the same actions.  What's hypocritical for one side is hypocritical for the other too.

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         Quilligrapherposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         
         Hello EA. Nice to exchange views with you once again.
         
         I think it is great that you remind us that President Obama “said he was going to shut Guantanamo Bay…Almost, five years later, Guantanamo Bay is still open.”
         
         Clearly, some people are not aware of all of the facts that explain why Guantanamo Bay is still open after five years. Since you have not mentioned any of them, I thought it appropriate that I should.
         
         January 2009…
         On his second full day in office, President Obama issued an executive order to review the disposition of prisoners and to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay within a year. {1}
         
         May, 2009…
         Congress withholds funds needed for closing Guantanamo Bay from a war-funding bill. “But Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., wasted no time in coming up with another Guantanamo amendment, ensuring that the issue will continue to be debated as consideration of the second fiscal 2009 supplemental spending bill resumes Wednesday.” {2}
         
         September 2009…
         President Obama was unable to find satisfactory destinations for the approximately 240 prisoners held at Guantanamo. “The administration must also win congressional funding for the closure process, find host countries for detainees cleared for release, and transfer dozens of inmates to federal and military courts for prosecution.” {3}
         
         October 2009…
         President Obama continued to battle for congressional approval and won funding from the House of Representatives to allow some prisoners to be transferred to the United States for prosecution. “The 307 to 114 vote removes one of many roadblocks the Obama administration faces as it tries to empty the internationally condemned prison by January.” {4}
         
         January 2010…
         After a year of stop and go progress and an October signal from Congress in favor of funding efforts to move prisoners to Thomson, IL, the GOP voiced public opposition to the Presidents plans to close the facility. “Guantanamo remains the proper place for holding terrorists, especially those who may not be able to be detained as securely in a third country,” according to Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell. “He urged Obama to revisit his decision to shutter the prison.” {5}
         
         May 2010…
         Despite facing a cool Congress, the President’s Guantánamo Review Task Force submitted a report giving lawmakers, for the first time, an outline for determining what do with each detainee. Specifically, the report called for transferring 126 detainees to their home countries or to a third country, prosecuting 36 in federal court or a military commission and holding 48 indefinitely under the laws of war. {6}
         
         January 2011…
         It is clear that President Obama really wants to close Gitmo but the Congress really does not. The New York Times noted “President Obama signed a major defense bill on Friday that includes strict new limits on the government’s ability to transfer detainees out of the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He sharply criticized those restrictions, but did not claim that he had the constitutional authority to disregard them.” {7}
         
         May 2013…
         In a second term speech before the National Defense University, President Obama renewed this pledge to close the facility forever. “As President, I have tried to close GTMO. I transferred 67 detainees to other countries before Congress imposed restrictions to effectively prevent us from either transferring detainees to other countries, or imprisoning them in the United States… Today, I once again call on Congress to lift the restrictions on detainee transfers from GTMO. I have asked the Department of Defense to designate a site in the United States where we can hold military commissions. I am appointing a new, senior envoy at the State Department and Defense Department whose sole responsibility will be to achieve the transfer of detainees to third countries.” {8}
         
         Therefore, EA, after five years, it appears the President is still working on his campaign promise to close Guantanamo. The facts reveal reasons beyond his control. While he may not succeed before 2019, it will not be because he did not try. Obviously, he has not given up on his pledge even if others have.
         
         {1} http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_off … acilities/
         {2} http://www.rollcall.com/news/73886-1.html
         {3} http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co … 93_pf.html
         {4} http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/10/15/idUSN15311213
         {5}  http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid= … &pos=9
         {6} http://www.rollcall.com/issues/56_9/-48 … e_friendly
         {7} http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/08/us/po … .html?_r=0
         {8} http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-off … rack-obama

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            Education Answerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            As always, I appreciate your thorough debate.  To be fair, I'm glad he has failed in his efforts to shut Guantanamo Bay.  I disagree with his stance.
            
            Shall we chalk up President Obama's inability to shut Guantanamo Bay as naiveté prior to becoming president?  He certainly was one of the least qualified presidents we've had in a long time.
            
            Didn't the democrats control both houses of Congress until the 2010 election?  Obamacare was forced through without a single GOP vote, but he couldn't shut Guantanamo Bay?  How did President Obama fail to shut Guantanamo Bay when he controlled Congress until January of 2011?  Are you saying that he couldn't even convince his own side to vote his way?  That's pretty bad.
            
            I believe that President Obama made bold, unrealistic claims and promises during the campaign.  Once elected, he had a dose of reality.  Further, I believe that he tried, until 2010, to close Guantanamo Bay.  In 2010, he received a sobering recommendation to keep Guantanamo Bay open, and since then, we've had talk and no action.  I could be wrong though.  To be honest, this isn't something that I have really followed, because I am opposed to President Obama's efforts to close Guantanamo Bay.
            
            Best wishes.

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               Zelkiiroposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               You say that as if no other candidate has ever done so. Remember Romney's "Day 1" plans?

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                  Education Answerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  Every time the POTUS is criticized, the only response is a "your guy did the same" kind of statement.

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      rhamsonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I voted for Obama both times and am disappointed with both terms. I can't tell what Obama has changed from Bush other than the affordable healthcare passage which is set to bankrupt me come tax time next year. I thought Obamas opposition in the elections were too much of a corporate sell out to vote for me and we will have to wait and see what happens in the middle east to determine if his handling of foreign affairs will be the ultimate failure.

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         pagesvoiceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Some things that have changed with Obama versus Bush: Reversed Bush torture policies, increased the budget of veteran's affairs to address veteran disabilities, passed credit card reforms, ended the Iraq war, drew down troops levels in Afghanistan, passed Wall Street reform, reinvigorated the U.S. auto business, eliminated Osama bin laden, and Gaddafi, and repealed "Don't Ask Don't Tell." Of course there are many more positive differences President Obama has made and although there are shortcomings, as well, I don't believe those warrant the type of mean spirited vitriol that is thrown at him.

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            Education Answerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            He did NOT reverse torture orders.  That is a blatant fallacy.  He outsources torture.  How is that any better?  Turkey and other countries do the dirty work for us now; this used to happen under George Bush too.  We hand the terrorists over for one reason, to be tortured into telling more information.
            
            A liberal source, the Huffington Post, reported:
            
            ". . . the closure of these facilities, the (Obama) administration's use of extraordinary rendition has outsourced human rights abuse to other countries. Will we ever get rid of torture?"
            
            http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/2 … 12578.html

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               pagesvoiceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Some want to hate and some want to look with an open mind. Hmmm......

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                  Education Answerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  What kind of doublespeak is this? 
                  
                  Is it a fact that we are outsourcing torture?  Yes.  That has NOTHING to do with love or having an open mind.  It is a fact, and emotion and rhetoric have nothing to do with it.

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   FatFreddysCatposted 11 years ago

   Because people have short memories and would rather blame whoever is currently in office for all of society's ills.

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      pagesvoiceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Apparently people do have short memories. President Obama is due to visit my hometown next week and the hateful, disrespectful and downright vile comments being made are embarrassing and shameful. I honestly do not know where the hate is coming from.

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         Kathryn L Hillposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         -no one likes to be disappointed.

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         Kathryn L Hillposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         lets compare President Obama to President Washington. That would be interesting as well.

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         Brenda Durhamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         He bred it with his own outright prejudicial and hateful commentaries he's been showering all of America with since before his election.

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   innersmiffposted 11 years ago

   Why is it the most vicious Presidents are held up to the highest esteem (FDR, Abraham Lincoln) and the Presidents that largely left people alone are forgotten (Van Buren, Tyler)?

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   Wayne Brownposted 11 years ago

   Although your facts are distorted, you miss the point that the press worked those points unmercifully every chance they had.  Obviously the liberal media considers doing the same with Obama to be a racist act.

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      pagesvoiceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Quite frankly Mr. Brown, I have no idea what facts you claim have been distorted, nor do I fall into the mantra trap of a "liberal media." However, considering Bush's epic failure as a president, I'm still asking why is there a plethora of venom spewed hate directed at Mr. Obama?

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         Education Answerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         There has to be some reason so many polls have listed him as the most polarizing president.

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            pagesvoiceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Um...can we say "uneducated white Americans?"

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               Education Answerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Your statement is astounding.  Why is it that so many people LOVE to assume that when other people disagree with them, those people are uneducated? 
               
               Were you able to research what I said?  You said that President Obama ended the torturing.  You were factually wrong when you said that. We are merely outsourcing torture now; actually, we outsourced a lot of torture under George Bush too.  How is getting another country to torture our suspects any better?  If you hire an assassin to kill somebody, doesn't it mean you are still implicitly involved in the crime?  We are involved in torturing suspected terrorists under President Obama too.  If need be, I can provide a plethora of sources, ranging from liberal to conservative, to confirm this reality.  The reality is that President Obama said he would end the torturing, but he has not done so, even though you are crediting him with this accomplishment.

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